Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

On the one hand, nobody ever really remembers who wins a preseason game. 

On the other, it's always better to win, and the Lakers 107-102 win over Milwaukee Thursday night represents a good result, and reflected an approach to the preseason the team has had throughout this October that is different than last. The Lakers have been far more invested in their work, both in games and in practice, as represented by who is playing, and how hard, and things like the enthusiasm shown by starters for watching the camp invitees and G-Leaguers close out a win. 

Thursday's victory was sparked by Quincy Olivari, a rookie Exhibit 10 signee from Xavier, who was +20 in nine minutes of play, and garnered a ton of praise from JJ Redick. 

Whether fair or not, the coaching change seems to have sparked an enthusiasm among players (remember, it's basically the same group of guys). They are, to a man, praising Redick, and nobody is really taking up for Darvin Ham. For a team that has to get off to a good start and leverage whatever advantages returning last year's roster might bring, the idea of maximizing the preseason is important. 

Ham, meanwhile, spoke to ESPN's Dave McMenamin on Thursday, and -- as you'd expect -- expressed gratitude for the opportunity he had in LA (it does him no good to say otherwise, even if he thinks he was treated unfairly) while sticking up for his body of work. 

Hopefully, this works out for everyone. Ham, eventually, gets another job and learns from what went wrong in LA last season. The Lakers, meanwhile, hope to improve with Redick on the sidelines, and give themselves a chance to improve this year that simply wouldn't have been able to happen had Ham returned for a third season. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers win their preseason opener. 

SEGMENT 2: Ham reflects on his time in LA. 

SEGMENT 3: Quincy Olivari makes a name for himself with a big fourth quarter. 

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John Schuhmann's annual GM Survey  was released this week, and what stood out most about the Lakers is... how little the team came up at all. There were scattered acknowledgments of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, plus a little love for rookie Dalton Knecht's potential, but mostly, they felt like afterthoughts. However, there was one category where the purple and gold got the most votes.

"Which team’s level of success this season is toughest to predict?"

As discussed on the show, it makes sense. The realistically imaginable scenarios for the Lakers range from top-four seed (improbable, but not impossible) to missing the playoffs altogether (also feels unlikely, but hardly unthinkable)... and everything in between. It also explains why AD got some recognition for his defensive skills, but not commensurate with his effect. And NO votes for "Most Versatile Defender?" WOW.

Plus, LeBron and JJ Redick aren't fans of a preseason roadie in Milwaukee against the Bucks.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky.

SEGMENT 1: GM's around the league done forgot about the Lakers!

SEGMENT 2: Why have they gone under the radar?

SEGMENT 3: Not to be whiny, but AD's defense should get more love. 

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The Lakers have a few days off between preseason games, which makes it an ideal time to take stock of how the team has looked in their two preseason games, particularly with LeBron James and Anthony Davis playing alongside what appears to be the actual rotation. And so far... it looks pretty good! Obviously, it's a small sample size, JJ Redick is wholly unproven as a coach, and the problem areas are still unsolved. But there's also a lot that's looked impressive, and the potential for this group may be higher than what's being predicted by most pundits.

But don't just take the word of the Kamenetzky brothers. Jacob Rude, who covers the team for Silver Screen and Roll, likes a lot of what he's seeing and hearing as well. He shared his thoughts on what's been promising during the preseason, Anthony Davis' desire for a top 5 defense, and the potential of Jalen Hood-Schifino, who Rude covered during his past stint as the host of Locked on Hoosiers.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with special guest Jacob Rude (Silver Screen and Roll)

SEGMENT 1: How do the Lakers look after two preseason games! 

SEGMENT 2: Can the Lakers have a top 5 defense? AD thinks so.

 SEGMENT 3: Bounceback season for Jalen Hood-Schifino?

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In Sunday's preseason loss to the Suns, the Lakers took 40 3-pointers. JJ Redick says it was a nice start, but he'd like to see even more of them! 

Well, the Celtics led the NBA last year, with just over 42 attempts per game. So there's not a ton of space above 40, at least by last year's standards. The Lakers, meanwhile, were near the bottom of the league, despite shooting a very good percentage. They were particularly good after the All-Star break, when Rui Hachimura entered the starting lineup and broadly the team found some stability. Yet the volume was still low as a team, and the Lakers constantly found themselves chasing points because their opponents were taking and making more 3's. 

So what would seven or eight extra triples look like? Where would those shots come from? Would it have to mean fewer trips to the line, something the Lakers were dominant at last year? Well, it could... but not necessarily. There are teams who were successful at both. Maybe they could cut down on some of the more inefficient mid-range work? Not because the analytics say mid-range shots are bad. They're not... if you're good at them. The Lakers? Not good. 

Pretty bad, actually. And yet in most of the mid-range areas, the Lakers tended to take more shots than their opponents. 

Something to watch as the outlines of Redick's offense become clearer. 

Plus... reaction to the Bronny/LeBron moment in Sunday's game. Fans, clearly, feel strongly about what they're seeing, some positive, some not. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: JJ Redick wants more 3's! 

SEGMENT 2: Where will those shots come from? 

SEGMENT 3: Viewers react to the Bronny/LeBron moment. 

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It was a big night for LeBron James. First, he made his preseason debut, and looked excellent in the process. 19 points in 16 minutes on 8-12 shooting, plus five rebounds and four assists to go with a pair of blocks. But more importantly (certainly for him) was sharing the court with Bronny James to open the second quarter. It was four relatively uneventful minutes that were clearly deeply meaningful to both father and son. 

It gave at least a glimpse into how the Lakers and JJ Redick would like to handle the real thing, once the regular season rolls around. (It was also a nice 20th birthday present for Bronny.) 

Meanwhile, Anthony Davis also played very well in his first action of the preseason, scoring 17 points in 18 minutes, adding seven rebounds and three dimes. Overall, it was a very efficient night for starters not named Austin Reaves. Both Rui Hachimura (who was awful on Friday, and much better Sunday) and D'Angelo Russell were over 50% from the floor. 

As a team, they shot 40 3-pointers, a number Redick was happy with (and seemed willing to see get higher). So that'll be something to watch. 

Critically, in that half the stars played, Redick seemed to treat it like he would a regular season game. There were (save the moment with Bronny, which came with a purpose) no weird minutes or combos you wouldn't expect to see in a real game. Jalen Hood-Schifino, for example, coming off a very nice game Friday, didn't check in until the second half on Sunday. Cam Reddish, who was available, also didn't play until after the half. It is in keeping with Redick's approach of using everyone's time wisely. The top guys in the rotation are, more or less, pretty obvious. As are some of the floor combinations. Don't overcomplicate stuff. That was a big criticism of last year's staff.

Oh, the Lakers lost, but it doesn't matter. In the part of the game that was important - the run with the main players in the first half - the team looked good, and carried a nice lead into the break. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers look good in the first half vs. Phoenix.

SEGMENT 2: What Sunday's rotation says about Redick. 

SEGMENT 3: Bron and Bronny debut! 

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The score wasn't great (the Lakers lost 124-107), but with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in street clothes, to some degree the ability to judge the final score was eliminated before the game started. 

Nor is it wise to try and infer too, too much about what life under JJ Redick will look like, since a) the stars weren't playing, and b) they've practiced for less than a week. That put the focus on individual performances, and among the most intriguing players on the floor for LA were the young guys who didn't make an impact last year, either because they weren't in the rotation (Max Christie), weren't ready/available (Jalen Hood-Schifino) or in college (Dalton Knecht). 

And while the sample size is small, the early returns were positive. Christie was for large stretches the best Laker on the floor, showing great calm and command of what he was doing on the floor, and contributing across statistical categories. The poise is there, which is why Redick referred to him as an "old soul" after the game. He's someone the Lakers will ask to make a significant contribution this season, well above what he was given the opportunity to do a year ago. At the least, he looks confident in his ability to deliver. 

Knecht didn't shoot particularly well (2-7 from 3-point range) but still scored 16 points and showed the ability to score at multiple levels. And while the turnovers were too high (five on the night), Knecht looked like a player who can function within an offense and keep it moving, rather than a ball-stopping shooter/scorer. 

Finally, Hood-Schifino, who suffered through a horrible rookie year in which he was clearly overmatched early and then injured for the bulk of the year, looked light years more confident and physically capable. Basically, JHS looked like an NBA basketball player. A rotation level player? Way too early to say. But last year, he didn't look like he should be wearing the uniform. So this was a major improvement. Six assists, no turnovers, much higher confidence. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

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Max Christie's contract extension this summer has made him a major point of interest in training camp, because people want to see if the Lakers will get the return they want (and many want to validate their view that Christie should have been playing more last year).

A version of the same storyline applies to Gabe Vincent, too. He missed most of last year with an injury, robbing the Lakers of a rotation piece  representing their big money signing from that summer. Vincent's absence meant the Lakers spent the season short at guard, too. 

So can Vincent, who has received a lot of praise in the early days of camp, step up and play a key role for LA this year? What do they need from him, exactly? 

Meanwhile, Thursday's practice in El Segundo featured more players talking in more detail about Redick's management style. Very efficient, very clear. The communication, early reviews say, has been very good. Even in his moments of sparring with the media, Redick has shown a very specific POV around words and communication that give clues as to his style behind the scenes. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Gabe Vincent is back and healthy. 

SEGMENT 2: What are reasonable expectations for Vincent? Plus, more talk of Redick's communication skills.
 

SEGMENT 3: What Redick's (minor and playful) sparring with media indicates about his POV. 

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Among the most interesting aspects of Monday's Media Day was D'Angelo Russell, who proved again why while not the best player on the Lakers, he's in the running for most interesting, from a media standpoint. 

He has a long history of candor, even when it doesn't serve him (and sometimes when it doesn't serve his team), and Monday was no exception. Russell started his time with an apology for periodic selfishness - the sorts of things where he didn't always seem to operate with a feel for the team's best interests. Not necessarily on the court, but as a leader and a veteran off it. This year, with new coach JJ Redick expressing his full support and saying he'd like to push Russell to a career season, Russell returned the favor by saying he wants to step up his game and earn his coach's trusts. First and foremost, that means defennse, and for Russell, that's a matter of focus. 

But can he sharpen those skills enough after 10 years of bad habits (compounded by natural limitations by NBA standards)? Even if the intentions are good? 

Meanwhile, Anthony Davis says he's not into analytics. Redick and his staff clearly are. And an interesting exchange Wednesday at practice is likely going to show again how many people don't understand the relationship between data, coaching and players. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: D'Angelo Russell says he's going to earn JJ Redick's trust. 

SEGMENT 2: Can Russell change his habits after a decade in the league? 

SEGMENT 3: AD, Redick and data. 

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The first full day of practice for the Lakers was, according to all involved, a very well-executed, efficiently run operation. A schedule was presented, it was adhered to. There was, by all accounts, purpose. And this was on the heels of a decision to hold a team dinner earlier this week to discuss expectations and lay out principles, rather than using practice time or extending the obligations players have during the day. 

In some ways, these are minor details - though clearly players are interested in pointing out the contrasts between Redick and his predecessor, when it comes to attention to detail and efficiency. 

These are all critical mechanisms for Redick, a first time coach at any level, to establish credibility with his players, who (despite early endorsements) are almost certainly reserving a little bit of judgment for a guy who has never coached at any professional level. These early days are more important for Redick than they might be for any other coach in the league, even the other guys who are new with their teams. 

So far, it seems, so good. So how is Redick going to make sure his attention to detail doesn't become overwhelming for players, to where the forest gets lost for the trees? 

Meanwhile, a lot of high praise early for Max Christie... is he ready to step up and fill the role the Lakers are clearly expecting him to play? He's one of the nine guys Redick plans to use in his rotation. But it'll likely be nine, and not more. At least for now. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: JJ Redick is running an efficient operation! 

SEGMENT 2: Redick is planning a nine man rotation. 

SEGMENT 3: Is Christie Ready? 

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Monday was Media Day across the NBA, and in El Segundo there where plenty of open questions that were addressed, at least a little, as every Lakers player took a turn at the podium to answer questions. 

A few themes emerged...

LeBron James said his Olympic experience was valuable on multiple fronts. First, it reminded him of the feeling that comes with playing truly consequential games for ultimate prizes, and that was something he clearly enjoyed. From there, James said the experience of playing with the Team USA crew, including a lot of young players like Anthony Edwards, was an invigorating experience, one that's continued moving into camp as he has the chance to practice with his son. Put it all together, and the whole deal was a reminder not just that he could still play, but that he has a lot -- a lot -- left in the tank. This isn't a guy who thinks he'll need to hang it up anytime soon, if he doesn't want to. 

Anthony Davis, meanwhile, talked about the potential for internal improvement with these Lakers, and the capacity to be better than people might expect. He too seemed to appreciate what it meant to play with Team USA and have the type of impact he did. It's clear, as well, that while he fully believes he'll never win a Defensive Player of the Year award, he wants to make the slight so obvious that the voters will cast their ballots with a sense of real shame. 

D'Angelo Russell? He's a huge fan of JJ Redick, and at the risk of speculating beyond his words... is a bigger fan than he was of Darvin Ham. An appreciation of Redick in these early days was a common theme among the players. They praised his communication, organization and attention to detail, and while the intention wasn't explicitly to disparage the previous regime, it's easy to be left with the impression that a few of the players at least didn't mind of that's where the mind of the listener went. 

Russell said this year he's really hoping to tighten things up and gain the trust of Redick, which has to happen on the defensive end first and foremost. That means paying attention to detail, and more broadly making sure that he's always a positive influence and providing constructive energy, something he admitted hasn't always been the case through his career. 

And the injuries! Christian Wood? Very optimistic! Jarred Vanderbilt? Seemed... less so. 

Plenty to highlight on a busy day for the Lakers. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers kick off the season with Media Day, and LeBron says he's got a lot left. 

SEGMENT 2: Good early reviews for Redick. 

SEGMENT 3: Candid D'Lo... 

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